Two-part screw closure cover

ABSTRACT

A two-part screw closure cover for containers or a pipe or tube socket, comprising coupling members in mutual engagement for connecting purposes and having a ratchet-like action, for automatic disengagement upon reaching a predetermined tightening torque of the cover, in which the coupling members are outwardly supported between both mutually freely rotatably mounted cover parts and are mounted in the inner circumference of one part of the cover, which coupling parts, which are provided with groovelike recesses, co-operate, in a radial direction, with a coupling means engaging with a ratchet-like action in the other part of the cover and, when a predetermined tightening torque for the screw cover part is reached, automatically disengage therefrom.

United States Patent 1191 Blau et al.

[ TWO-PART SCREW CLOSURE COVER [76] Inventors: Werner Blau, S2,Gladbacherstrasse; Theo Gerdes, 24, Lortzingweg, both of LangenfeldRhineland, Germany 22 Filed: June 18, 1971 21 App1.No.: 154,409

[58] Field of Search ..220/39 R; 215/43 R, 49, 50, 215/55, 43 R [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor et a1 ..220/39 R Boyer220/39 R Blau et al ..220/39 R Blau et a1 ..220/39 R PrimaryExaminerGeorge T. Hall Att0rney-Ernest G. Montague [57] ABSTRACT Atwo-part screw closure cover for containers or a pipe or tube socket,comprising coupling members in mutual engagement for connecting purposesand having a ratchet-like action, for automatic disengagement uponreaching a predetermined tightening torque of the cover, in which thecoupling members are outwardly supported between both mutually freelyrotatably mounted cover parts and are mounted in the inner circumferenceof one part of the cover, which coupling parts, which are provided withgroove-like recesses, co-operate, in a radial direction, with a couplingmeans engaging with a ratchet-like action in the other part of the coverand, when a predetermined tightening torque for the screw cover part isreached, automatically disengage therefrom.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 61975 $3,715,075 SHEET 10? 2Inventory:

w g w TWO-PART SCREW CLOSURE COVER PRIOR APPLICATION In Federal Republicof Germany on 22nd June 1970 and numbered P 20 30 600.7

The present invention concerns a cover for screw connections andconsists of two parts, for containers or as pipe or tube socket closureshaving coupling members provided with a ratchet-like action which areinserted between the parts of the cover, in which said coupling members,upon reaching a suitably determined cover tightening torque,automatically disengage as a result of the forces issuing from thepressure of the threads.

Screw thread covers suffer from the disadvantage that, due to beingexcessively tightened on their threaded socket, they can only bereleased to open the container with difficulty, that is to say, suchcovers frequently can only be unscrewed by hand with considerablephysical forceor can be only released with the use of mechanical means,particularly if the threaded portions are heavily soiled.

Accordingly, it is necessary to form such covers so that they can betightened only up to a predetermined tightening torque in order thatthey may be easily unscrewed again. For this purpose, it is known toprovide an upper cap portion comprising a lower actual threaded coverportion inserted to rotate freely therein, and to insert there-betweencoupling members serving for such connection, in the form of springelements having a predetermined pressure force which, when acorresponding cover tightening torque in the closing direction isreached, automatically disengage in a ratchet-like manner so that theupper rotary cover member is still freely rotatable. Since the couplingmembers below the upper part of the cover engage over each other in aratchet-like manner, the lower threaded cover portion does not rotatejointly therewith, that is to say, it cannot 'be tightened any more.Accordingly, in the opposite direction of rotation, the threaded coverportion isjointly rotated by the engagement of the parts in the reversedposition and can easily be opened again at any time, since the covercannot be excessively tightened. Spring elements, aligned obliquelyupwardly in the closing direction of the cover, always engage in agripping or handle portion pressed out of the upper part of the rotaryclosure, or an inserted disc member, provided with cams or helicalgearing, also engages in the axial direction of the cover, alignedupwardly or downwardly, with the effect of spring pressure, incorresponding recesses in the other part of the cover. Hence, when apredetermined cover tightening torque is reached, automaticdisengagement of the inserted disc member occurs, in the manner of aratchet so that mutual engagement of both cover parts over each other iseffected by means of interposed spring elements, and the upper rotaryclosure member is still freely rotatable, and the tightened lowerthreaded part cannot be tightened any more on a threaded socket and'caneasily be released again in the opposite direction of rotation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified formfor such two-part closure covers comprising an upper screw cover partand a lower threaded screw cover part and having interposed springcoupling members with a ratchet action, and at the same time, to

provide a more suitable coupling form for both cover parts with eachother in order to ensure mutual coupling, on the one hand, and automaticdisengagement on the other hand, in a technically practical manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a two-part screwclosure cover for containers or a pipe or tube socket, comprisingcoupling members in mutual engagement for connecting purposes and havinga ratchet-like action, for automatic disengagement upon reaching apre-determined tightening torque of the cover, in which the couplingmembers are outwardly supported between both mutually freely rotatablymounted cover parts and are mounted in the inner circumference of onepart of the cover, which coupling parts, which are provided withgroove-like recesses, cooperate, in a radial direction, with couplingmeans engaging with a ratchet-like action in the other part of the coverand, when a pre-determined tightening torque for the screw cover part isreached, automatically disengage therefrom.

The present invention will be further illustrated by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a section through a screw closure cover having couplingmembers inserted therein in disc form or as bridge members in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line lI-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section through a screw closure cover having a modified formof coupling arrangement in accordance with a further embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an upper screw cover part 1 engagesover the lower screw cover part 2 by means of an externally downwardlydrawn edge portion 1'. The upper flanged edge 2' of the lower screwcover part 2 is supported by the downwardly flanged cap edge portion 1of the upper screw cover part 1. In the normal manner, an annular discseal is inserted below the flanged edge 2' of the lower screw cover part2, which seal presses against the container edge or pipe or tube socketedge to be sealed.

As illustrated, a sealing ring 3 is inserted in an annular groove belowthe flanged edge 2' of the lower screw cover part 2, which ring issimultaneously pressed against and to a degree over the edge of thecontainer or socket, or alternatively the ring may be simultaneouslypressed between the flanged edge 2' and the lower screw cover part 2.

A separate coupling disc 4, which acts to couple the cover parts 1 and 2together, is mounted between the freely rotatable upper screw cover part1 and its associated edge portions 1 and l", and the freely rotatablelower screw cover part 2 and its associated edge portion 2', and overthe inner circumference of the upper screw cap 1 and its associated edgeportion 1'. For this purpose the coupling disc 4 is provided withprojections 11 which are distributed over its outer circumference andengage with a co-operably engaging corrugated edge portion 1 provided inthe externally downwardly drawn edge portion 1' of the lower screw coverpart 1, thereby supporting; the disc 4. Alternatively, the disc 4 may bereplaced diametrically opposed by a bridge member 14, shown in brokenlines, which member 14 is prevented from rotating by means ofprojections 11 which engage with the corrugated edge portion 1".

Furthermore, according to the present invention, coupling members areprovided which extend upwardly through recesses 4' provided in thecoupling disc 4. The members 5 are pressed diametrically oppositely andradially outwardly by means of an interposed compression spring 6.

The members 5 are disposed in grooves located in a depression 7 providedin the lower screw cover part 2 and act as driving members. The members5 may alternatively engage in groove-like recesses 4" provided in thecoupling means, viz. disc 4 or bridge member 14, by means of springpressure. When the upper screw cover part 1, including its associatededge portion 1 is turned, the coupling members 5, being disposed withinits inner circumference are engaged by the coupling means viz. disc 4 orbridge member 14, whereby the lower screw cover part 2, including itsassociated edge portion 2, is accordingly turned simultaneously.

When the upper screw cover part 1 is turned to its closed position on acontainer or pipe or tube socket, the lower screw cover part 2 iscorrespondingly turned in a clockwise direction by means of theabovedescribed coupling arrangement, and is thereby tightened on thethreaded socket by means of the sealing ring 3. Meanwhile, the couplingmembers 5 are each engaged, by means of the spring means 6, within thegroove-like recesses 4" provided in the coupling means 4 or 14 by beingdisposed against the parallel edge 4a of the grooves. If, as a result oftightening the closure, a force occurs which exceeds the predeterminedtorque for the lid, then the upper screw cover part 1, including itsassociated edge portion 1, together with the coupling means 4 or 14,will continue to turn. As the coupling members 5 are driven by thecoupling means 4 or 14, then in the closing direction of the cover, thebevelled surfaces 5' of the members 5 run against the other edges 4b(opposite to 4a) of the grooves 4". Upon overcoming the correspondinglypredetermined force applied by the spring means 6, the coupling members5 are released from engagement with the recessed grooves 4" so that, asthe now freely running upper screw cover part 1 continues to turn, thecoupling members 5 engage above the recessed grooves 4" in the couplingmeans 4 or 14 in the manner ofa ratchet. Thus, however, as the screwclosure cover, depending on the calculated force of the particularspring 6 used, can only be tightened up to a predetermined force, thenupon reaching such tightening force, the coupling between the upperscrew cover part 1, including its associated edge portion 1', and thelower screw cover part 2 including its associated edge portion 2'disengages automatically by way of means 4 or 14 or members 5 by thereaction of the correspondingly prevailing thread pressure.

In order to open the closure cover by rotation in the oppositedirection, however, the coupling members 5, automatically engage beingguided by the compression spring 6, against the groove edges 4a so as todrive the lower part 2 of the threaded cover in an anticlockwisedirection in order to release the mutually tightened threadconvolutions. Since the predetermined screw closure cover cannot, in anycase, be excessively tightened, it can be easily loosened or turned backat any time, the ends of the coupling members 5 extending upwardly intothe part 1 can also be turned, by contact with the edge A of the cover,until they engage in grooves 4" provided over the circumference of thecoupling disc 4.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a modified and simplified embodiment of thepresent invention, in which coupling members 15 extend upwardly into agripping portion or handle 8 which is diametrically pressed out of theupper part of the cover or engage downwardly directly into grooves 9provided on the circumference within a member 10 or, in turn, arepressed diametrically outwardly by a compression spring 6 within thismember 10 into the grooves 9. When the upper part of the cover isturned, by means of the gripping member or handle 8 the lower portion 12of the threaded cover is engaged by contact with the edge B by means ofthe coupling members 15 and, in turn, is screwed against a threadedsocket until a pre-determined tightening torque is reached and until areaction force, resulting from the pressure of the thread, overcomes theforce of the compression spring 6. The coupling members 15 thereafterdisengage from their engagement with the grooves 9 against the force ofthe compression spring, whilst the inclined surfaces 15 of the couplingmembers engage, with a ratchet-like action, over the outer edges of thegrooves 9 or, the edges of the coupling members 15 which are notinclined, are in contact with the opposite edges of the grooves 9, saidmembers 15 being guided in parallel, in the reverse direction ofrotation for releasing the cover, whereby the lower portion 12 of thethreaded cover may once again be unscrewed from its sealing seat.

We claim:

1. A two-part screw closure cover comprising coupling members in mutualengagement for connecting purposes and having a ratchet-like action, forautomatic disengagement upon reaching a predetermined tightening torqueof the cover, in which the coupling members are outwardly supportedbetween both mutually freely rotatably mounted cover parts and aremounted in the inner circumference of one part of the cover, whichcoupling parts, which are provided with groove-like recesses,co-operate, in a radial direction, with coupling means engaging with aratchet-like action in the other part of the cover and, when apredetermined tightening torque for the screw cover part is reached,automatically disengage therefrom.

2. A screw closure cover as recited in claim 1, in which a disc is usedas coupling means having a central aperture and, over its circumference,radially outwardly directed recesses for groove-like engagement ofdiametrically opposing coupling members under the force of a compressionspring on the circumference of the upper part of the screw closure.

3. A screw closure cover as recited in claim 1, in which a bridge memberis used as coupling means which is inserted diametrically oppositely inthe upper part of the screw closure and engages radially outwardly ingrooves under the force of a compression spring co-operating withcoupling members extending through apertures and engaging on the lowerpart of the screw cover.

coupling means and directly formed in the upper flanged portion of thescrew cover member, coupling members subjected to radial springpressure, engage by their parts in a diametrically pressed-out grippingmember or handle projecting upwardly in an axial direction relative tothe screw closure.

1. A two-part screw closure cover comprising coupling members in mutualengagement for connecting purposes and having a ratchetlike action, forautomatic disengagement upon reaching a predetermined tightening torqueof the cover, in which the coupling members are outwardly supportedbetween both mutually freely rotatably mounted cover parts and aremounted in the inner circumference of one part of the cover, whichcoupling parts, which are provided with groove-like recesses,co-operate, in a radial direction, with coupling means engaging with aratchetlike action in the other part of the cover and, when apredetermined tightening torque for the screw cover part is reached,automatically disengage therefrom.
 1. A two-part screw closure covercomprising coupling members in mutual engagement for connecting purposesand having a ratchet-like action, for automatic disengagement uponreaching a predetermined tightening torque of the cover, in which thecoupling members are outwardly supported between both mutually freelyrotatably mounted cover parts and are mounted in the inner circumferenceof one part of the cover, which coupling parts, which are provided withgroove-like recesses, co-operate, in a radial direction, with couplingmeans engaging with a ratchet-like action in the other part of the coverand, when a predetermined tightening torque for the screw cover part isreached, automatically disengage therefrom.
 2. A screw closure cover asrecited in claim 1, in which a disc is used as coupling means having acentral aperture and, over its circumference, radially outwardlydirected recesses for groove-like engagement of diametrically opposingcoupling members under the force of a compression spring on thecircumference of the upper part of the screw closure.
 3. A screw closurecover as recited in claim 1, in which a bridge member is used ascoupling means which is inserted diametrically oppositely in the upperpart of the screw closure and engages radially outwardly in groovesunder the force of a compression spring co-operating with couplingmembers extending through apertures and engaging on the lower part ofthe screw cover.
 4. A screw closure cover as recited in claim 1, inwhich the coupling means is prevented from twisting by engagement withprojections extending from the outer circumference of an edge of thecover.